When it comes to musicals, it’s fair to say I am out of my comfort zone.

I was once in the school production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, I played a prisoner.

It wasn’t a very demanding role, I sat around in a potato sack, having to look sympathetic to poor old Joseph, who to be fair had enjoyed better days.

That’s the extent of my theatrical expertise, however even I had heard of the hype surrounding the huge global success that is Wicked.

It is estimated that 42 million people worldwide have enjoyed this show, so with that in mind I took my two daughters along to Birmingham Hippodrome.

The musical tells the story of the two sorcery students, Elphaba and Glinda, who become unlikely friends and later the two witches we have come to know as Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good in Frank Baum’s Wizard Of Oz.

Jemma Alexander is fantastic as the green-skinned Elphaba and really commands attention with a truly powerful performance. Equally, Emily Tierney is brilliant as Glinda who befriends social outcast Elphaba.

The musical is about the breakdown of what becomes an awkward friendship and deals with a wide range of issues including love, betrayal, jealousy, good and evil.

However as with any good adventure, all is not always as it seems and so expect the odd surprise in the plot.

Cast members of stage show Wicked pose up outside the Birmingham Hippodrome Theatre. Left to right: Wendy-Lee Purdy, Oliver Metzler, Chrissy Brooke.

Emotional engagement is crucial to the success of the show and you do relate to the characters very early on.

During the tense moments of the show you could hear a pin drop, but the sharp humour was also a success when delivered.

It’s a vast production, with the epic adventure brought to life by superb scenery, innovative effects and superb acting.

Songs in the musical are instantly easy to appreciate and conveys the emotions of the scenes wonderfully.

There are some great nods to The Wizard Of Oz, but in truth you could enjoy this without having seen it.

It is a powerful, charming and emotive production from start to finish and there is one bit at the end of the first half that dropped every jaw in the audience.

I’m no thespian, but this was a sheer joy from start to finish, with adults and children leaving the theatre delighted.

It is every bit as good as people say it is, and far better than I imagined.